The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-14
sDo I see whomf I don't see any
thinp to lauoh at.n

tnlnG 20 laugh uat.
"Therc, in the sixth carriage, that
tall, light-haired man at the side of that
young girl in pink dress with white
hat, is Monsieur dc Vauvilain, the chief
baiilff. And in tho other vehicle, that
small, fat man, with tho lady in green,
is NJ. Chapuis, the wealthy land owner.
There is no doubt of it, they are both
invited to the wedding"
"Why, OF course, Father Philip, or
YOU would not see them in carriages
| following the bride. But tell me, why
do you find 1t so funny that those gen.
tlemcn should be invited to attend
Mile. Bondurand's wcddinga"
"Tis true! always forget that you
have just arrived and have, as yet, heard
nothing of it. you only knew. All,
no, let me laugh" .
'There is an amusing story connected
with the marriage then2"
Amusing if you wish-that Is, to
those who are acquainted with the
parties"
"All the same, tell it to me, father
Philip, I long to hear it."
Being well-informed, loquacious inn
keeper, Father Philip did not require
much persuasion. Tho wedding train
and the crowd had disappeared. We
were alone on the vcranda, where trav-
elers generally slipped their coffee. I
ordered two cups and after tasting his
the old fellow commenced as follows:
II must begin by telling you that
Jacques Florent, whom you have just
noticed, and who has married so well,
was born in this neighborhood. We
used to see him, when quito small, going
to the parochiol school, his satchel on
his back, and his hands in his pockets.
He was O civil, we'll bred youngster.
When he met one he would politely doff
his cap, and when school was dismissed,
he would never loaf about the streets in
stead of going home. His mother, who
managed small farm near by, would
take him to school in the morning when
she came to town to sell the milk Of her
cows, and would call for him in the
evening, on her way home. She was
widow, and worked hard to bring her
son up properly.
On his side, little jacques worked
hard also. One year he won so many
prizes that he could not carry them all.
Then his mother determined to send
him to college. She found no sacrifice
too great in order to obtain the means of
paying for his board and lodging. She
would arise On honr earlier in the morn
ing and 60 to bed later at night, while
oil day long she would toll like slave.
Poor Mother Florent. How she did
move about in those days. Luckily it
was not long before the youngster was
able to provide for himself. He first
won a scholarship here, another at col
lege, still another in Paris at the Ecole
Ccntrale, where he stood at the head of
his classes.
''IIe must be phenix, then!"
Il don't know about his being
phoenix, but one thing certain is, that,
like his mother, he is hard worker;
and by working hard, one always gets
on"
81 agree with you there"
ssWcll, to cut the story short, he sue
ceeded. In Paris, during three years he
faithfully attended to his studies, while
he gave lessons here and there, and by
this means made money enough to meet
his smaller expenses. At last, he passed
his final examination successfully, and,
with his diploma in his pocket, he re-
turned home. His good reputation had
preceded him, and on his arrival M.
Bondurand offered him situation in his
woolen mills"
"Ahl yes. Now I understand about
the marriage. But how about those two
that you were laughing about awhile
apo2 Where do NJ. dc Vauvilain, baliff,
and NJ. Chapuis, the landed proprietor,
come in2'
Hold on, you 60 too fast. In plac-
ing Jacques Florent at the head of his
factory, NJ. Bondurand had not the least
idea of letting him wed his daughter
neither did Mime. Boudurand, I assure
you."
"Then Mile. Cclcste's marriage took
place against their wishesa"
"Never in the world"
"I don't understand it at all then"
1uuG 10 uot oui AolhS' Aoo W.
give me time to explain things. You
may we'll suppose that, with her
fortune, Mile. Celeste, who Is a charm
ing young person, as you may have
noticed yourself, and who was brought
up (as a princess, had no end of ad-
mircrs. Every winter Nine. Bondurand's
parlors arc thronged with the best
society of the town, and at her recep-
tions the richest and most dis
tinguished people are to be met.
Being an engineer, Paul was invited.
He never failed to attend, but he
always remembered his place, while
Mcssrs. Chapuis and do Vauvilain para
ded in the first ranks, letting it be
known that they were in love with Mile.
Ceisste. I believe, though, that they
were only in love with her dowry. Each
made up his mind to win the prize at
any cost, and the conduct of both was in
strict accordance with this determi-
nation. The strangcst part of the whole
proceedings was that neither attempted
to oct into the rood graces of the young